Mine keeps overheating too. I put in a service call, and they are supposed to replace the motherboard, heat sink, and fan, but they cancelled the service and are giving me the runaround. It has been a week since I reported the issue. Any advise?
I have a 5150 which is known for heat issues. I used to just call dell and say "I need the thermal paste and fan assembly replaced" and they'd say ok and do it. Once I yelled at them and they gave me 200 bucks. So to me they've always been helpful that was about 4 years ago. If you have any overheating issues i would STRONGLY recommend these two programs. I8kFanGui - Used to control your fans, also monitors cpu temperature. SpeedSwitchXP - Uses your computers power schemes to change the speed of your processor. I keep mine at battery optimized, my fan never turns on, and I'm at a cool 43 degrees C idle. If you are good with computers, you could open up your laptop and replace the thermal greese with something better. The dell website has manuals on opening up the computers and removing the parts. I've this this, but I did not see much improvement. I think I might have put too little on the proc. Anyway, hope this helps.
I'm not familiar with the Inspiron model laptops, but if they're like the Latitude and Precision laptops, you should be able to remove the keyboard and blast the dust off the CPU fan and heat sink using canned air.
A couple tips:
1) Do the air blasting outside - the CPU Fan and heatsink is like a vacuum cleaner bag - you will get a cloud of dust.
2) Try to leave the fan vent exposed so dust can get blow out of it.
3) Hold the CPU Fan in place when blasting - don't let it spin.
4) Hold your breath and don't put your face close when doing this.
Thanks for the tips. I finally was able to have Dell replace the motherboard, heat sink, and fan. I have some arctic silver, so hopefully they can use that. I'll also try those utilities to control the fan. Thanks!
Just make sure you check the compatibility list to make sure it work with your computer. Also be careful with the fan control. I know intel cpu's should turn off if they get too hot, but juts in case, make sure u don't accidentally turn the fans off and have ur cpu over heat.
We had the same problem with the screen flickering light and dark and then losing power completely. Both Dell and an outside source told us we need a new motherboard. After only 2 1/2 yers of use.
Dell's price to fix the computer was $470 with only a 3 mont warranty on the work.
$470 to fix a $1000 computer.
This is the last Dell we buy unless they have a recall. Apparantly lots of other people are having the same problem with the 1150.
If you do a search you will find that some people in the State of Calif. have put together a suit for this problem.
OK, I took apart the computer and blew it out as well as the fan area. Luckily I got it back together. It is doing better but sill over heating. What else can an amatuer do? ALSO this Battery only last about 15 minutes unplugged. Where is the best place to get a decent battery for a DELL and not have to take out a small loan. THanks everyone for post thusfar. Nunnboys
I replaced my mobo in 02/07, then in 06/07 the screen started turning dark (worked fine on external monitor, it's a pain, but it works) Dell said need new display, Okay now the power dosn't work, (power light on adapter on, lights on front of pc blink green every 5-10 seconds) when I put in the battery, no lights, nothing. Dell said it COULD be my adapter and/or motherboard (again).
I am a single mom trying to go to college and can't afford to keep "trying" things that might work. Mobo only had 90 day warranty.
Outside of throwing it out the window, any suggestions? I am still paying for it so getting a new one is out of the question.
Also someone on the fourm said to check the label on the bottom of pc to see if it matches the wattage on the adapter, problem is that pc ran so hot that the label is "burned" off, can't read a thing.
go to the Dell support/warranty lookup web page and look up your service tag. Besides giving your warranty status (which sounds like it has expired), you can also check the configuration of the system as it was shipped to you. I think the configuration info also includes which wattage AC adapter you were originally shipped.
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